Texas – Page 12 – In The States

Texas

NACDS is asking members to call Chari Stephanie Klick and members of the House Public Health Committee asking for a hearing as soon as possible for TX HB 678 by Rep. Phil Cortez. Our message is that “there is an urgent need to permanently remove the administrative barriers allowing pharmacists to independently order and administer all immunizations to anyone 3 years of age or older without a prescription. Passing HB 678 will guarantee Texans get much better access to convenient, preventive health care.”

Also in Texas, as the state opens COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to everyone age 16 and older, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) launched the Texas Public Health Vaccine Scheduler, giving people one place to sign up for a COVID-19 shot through multiple public health departments, including the eight DSHS public health regions, which provide public health services in nearly 200 Texas counties, and more than a dozen local health entities across the state.

Also in Texas, beginning April 1^st, Health and Human Services (HHSC) set the fee-for-service (FFS) reimbursement rates for COVID vaccines to align with Medicare. The FFS administration reimbursement rate is now $40 for each dose.

Lastly in Texas, the Board of Pharmacy is requesting comments by May 4^th on several proposed rules:

Proposed rule amending regulations allowing pharmacists to electronically sign the data entry attestation statement. The rule also would update references to the DEA 222 order form requirements for distributing Schedule II controlled substances.
Proposed rule extending the period that Schedule II prescriptions are valid to 30 days to conform to federal standards. The rule also would remove a reference to the effective date of the pharmacy responsibility provisions.
Proposed rule correcting statutory and regulatory cross-references in the requirements on pharmacy operation.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

Michael Silber2021-04-09T09:55:02-04:00April 9, 2021|Texas|

Texas

NACDS is asking members to call Rep. Stephanie Klick’s office, the Chair of the House Public Health Committee, urging her to schedule a hearing as soon as possible for TX HB 678 by Rep. Phil Cortez (D). Our message is that “there is an urgent need to permanently remove the administrative barriers allowing pharmacists to independently order and administer all immunizations to anyone 3 years of age or older without a prescription. Passing HB 678 will guarantee Texans get much better access to convenient, preventive health care.” Capitol Phone: (512) 463-0599; District Phone: (817) 281-0079 & Public Health Committee Phone: (512) 463-0806

Also in Texas, As the state opens COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to everyone age 16 and older, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) launched the Texas Public Health Vaccine Scheduler, giving people one place to sign up for a COVID-19 shot through multiple public health departments, including the eight DSHS public health regions, which provide public health services in nearly 200 Texas counties, and more than a dozen local health entities across the state.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

Michael Silber2021-04-02T08:46:18-04:00April 2, 2021|Texas|

Texas

The Board of Pharmacy issued two final rules that went into effect on March 14. One final rule amends the notification requirements for pharmacists who sign prescription orders for dangerous drugs under a written protocol, and another final rule clarifies that the requirement to consult the Prescription Monitoring Program before dispensing opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or carisoprodol is limited to outpatient prescriptions.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

Michael Silber2021-03-19T14:14:27-04:00March 19, 2021|Texas|

Texas

NACDS sponsored the Texas Pharmacy Day at the Capitol virtual meeting promoting pharmacy’s 2021 legislative priorities – PBM reform, make permanent access to all immunizations by a pharmacist or certified pharmacy technician without a protocol to anyone three and older, and expanded services allowing pharmacists to furnish specific medications under a physician protocol approved by both the Board of Pharmacy and Medical Board.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

Michael Angeloni2021-02-19T09:42:28-05:00February 19, 2021|Texas|

Texas

Gov. Greg Abbott (R) reappointed Cecile Young as the Executive Commissioner for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) for a term set to expire on February 1, 2023.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

Michael Angeloni2021-02-12T09:08:03-05:00February 12, 2021|Texas|

Texas

Gov. Greg Abbott (R) will deliver his State-of-the-State address on February 1, 2021, to provide an update on the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and lay out his priorities for the 87th Legislature.

Also in Texas. the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Advisory Committee held its quarterly meeting on January 19. The vendor Appriss shared information on the product enhancements to NarxCare program. The current statute requires all Texas licensed pharmacies are required to report all dispensed controlled substances C-II-V records to the PMP no later than the next business day after the prescription is filled.

Also in Texas. The Board of Pharmacy is scheduled to host a videoconference meeting on February 2, 2021. More information can be found at the following website: https://ldh.la.gov/covidvaccine/

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

Michael Angeloni2021-01-29T10:28:34-05:00January 29, 2021|Texas|

Texas

The Legislature convened on Tuesday, January 12, and immediately elected a new Speaker of the House, Republican Dade Phelan from Beaumont.

Also in Texas. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) instructed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CMS) to ship first doses of COVID-19 vaccine to 28 hub providers for large community vaccinations of health care workers, people 65 and older, and anyone 16 and older with medical conditions that put them at greater risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19.

Also in Texas. The Medical Board adopted a final rule establishing the process and circumstances under which physicians may obtain a waiver to be exempt from requirements for electronic prescribing of controlled substances.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

Michael Angeloni2021-01-15T10:26:44-05:00January 15, 2021|Texas|

Texas

At their November meeting, the Board of Pharmacy increased the pharmacy-to-pharmacy technician ratio for Class A retail pharmacies from 1:4 to 1:6, effective December 10, 2020. More information can be found here.

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

Michael Angeloni2020-12-18T08:06:19-05:00December 18, 2020|Texas|

Texas

On November 3, NACDS’ pharmacists from Albertsons, CVS, HEB, Kroger, and Walgreens, as well as the Texas Federation of Drug Stores president, all testified in support of the proposed rules to expand technician ratios. The Board of Pharmacy adopted final rules increasing the pharmacist-to-technician ratio from 1:4 to 1:6 in Class A community retail pharmacies, and totaling eliminating the 1:8 ratio in Class G central processing pharmacies. The Board also voted to expand pharmacy technician duties for Class A and Class G pharmacies, including accepting oral prescriptions, transferring prescriptions, and contacting the prescriber to clarify information on an existing prescription order. The new rules will become effective 21 days after they are submitted to the Texas Register, which could occur by mid-December 2020.

Also in Texas. The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Immunization Program is requiring pharmacies register to be eligible to administer COVID-19 vaccines in Texas once they are available. Also, pharmacies must register with ImmTrac2, Texas’ Immunization Information System (IIS), and also register on VaccineFinder.org

For more information, contact NACDS’ Mary Staples at 817-442-1155.

Michael Angeloni2020-11-06T12:25:01-05:00November 6, 2020|Texas|